1999 Mazda Protege Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 1999 Mazda Protege, and owners have filed 88 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 1999 Mazda Protege
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Radio/tape deck/cd etc. (equipment)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with a particular factory installed audio unit. If the vehicle is operated at low speed in a hot and humid environment with the window open, air conditioner running, and audio on, condensed water on the a/c duct surface could drop and enter into the audio unit, causing a short circuit.
Remedy: Dealers will affix aluminum tape over the audio unit to prevent water from entering.
88 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1999 Mazda Protege have filed 88 complaints with NHTSA; 21 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 16 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 64,730 miles. Complaints peaked in 2000 with 20 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The plastic dip stick to check oil snapped off”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 13, 2018 · Engine
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 mazda protege. The contact stated that while driving at any speed, the instrument panel lights started to flicker and failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to an inde”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 30, 2015 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1999 Mazda Protege. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 23–27 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 21–25 / 27–31 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.6/1.8 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Mazda Protege model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Mazda Protege model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 Mazda Protege | 0 | 2 |
| 1990 Mazda Protege | 1 | 37 |
| 1991 Mazda Protege | 1 | 51 |
| 1992 Mazda Protege | 1 | 63 |
| 1993 Mazda Protege | 1 | 44 |
| 1994 Mazda Protege | 1 | 74 |
| 1995 Mazda Protege | 4 | 165 |
| 1996 Mazda Protege | 1 | 70 |
| 1997 Mazda Protege | 1 | 66 |
| 1998 Mazda Protege | 1 | 46 |
| 1999 Mazda Protege | 1 | 88 |
| 2000 Mazda Protege | 1 | 102 |
| 2001 Mazda Protege | 1 | 50 |
| 2002 Mazda Protege | 0 | 98 |
| 2003 Mazda Protege | 0 | 120 |
Checking a specific 1999 Mazda Protege
How do I know if my 1999 Mazda Protege has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 1999 Mazda Protege; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Mazda dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V301000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Mazda models
- 6263,130 complaints
- MAZDA32,987 complaints
- CX-52,451 complaints
- MAZDA62,234 complaints
- Tribute2,102 complaints
- CX-91,438 complaints
- CX-71,132 complaints
- Mpv938 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.